Canisius College

Where Leaders Are Made

A Catholic, Jesuit education at Canisius College presents students with many unique learning opportunities to engage and transform the mind and spirit. Regardless of your academic major, you’ll be challenged to solve complex problems and reflect on your deepest values.

At Canisius College, issues are explored on a deep level. You’ll tackle big questions about life and death, good and evil, wealth and poverty—and you’ll be supported as you search for answers. You’ll learn how to think, not what to think. You’ll develop core skills that will help you adapt to any career shift or life situation. And perhaps most important of all, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on what kind of person you want to be—beyond what degree you earn.

A Catholic, Jesuit tradition
Founded in 1870 by German members of the Society of Jesus, Canisius College is a private liberal arts institution conducted in the Jesuit tradition. The College offers a concentrated liberal arts core that helps students focus their personal philosophies. A high priority is placed on inquiry and intellectual growth. The varied learning experiences are world-affirming and focus on educating the whole person: intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Students are taught to think critically about their place in and responsibilities to the world. In keeping with the Jesuit tradition, Canisius College exemplifies the phrase “men and women for and with others.” Service learning courses put students in neighborhood settings where they can expand on their classroom learning and give back to the community. And even during semester breaks, groups of students and faculty embark on service immersion trips throughout the country and around the world. Recent trips include Appalachia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, and Poland.

Our staff and faculty encourage students to strive for magis, a Latin term meaning “more.” Through the core curriculum, service, and reflection, students are asked to give more of who they are. The goal is to grow as an individual and help develop the community around them.

Unlimited learning opportunities
Students at Canisius can choose from more than 100 majors, minors, specializations, and pre-professional programs. Styles of instruction include lively discussions and lectures. Students are challenged to discover and debate practical and ethical issues. They enjoy collaborations with faculty as they conduct research or work on special projects. Our students study animal behavior up close just blocks away from campus at the Buffalo Zoo and examine trends for international trade along the US-Canadian border. Learning environments expand beyond Buffalo as well, with study abroad opportunities available in a variety of countries.

Flexible academic programs also allow students to match courses with their strengths and interests. Some even combine different areas for a dual or triple major. Students who aren’t sure what they want to study can utilize our Pathfinders Academic Exploration Program. Here at Canisius, every student is encouraged to create their own unique academic path.

Home away from home
When Canisius students aren’t working hard, they take advantage of opportunities to play hard. The College is home to the Golden Griffins, made up of 20 NCAA Division I athletic teams and 29 club and intramural sports. There are over 90 student-run clubs and organizations on campus to get involved in. Buffalo is home to professional football and hockey teams, minor league baseball teams, and a world-champion lacrosse team. An easy walk takes students to Delaware Park, one of Frederick Law Olmsted’s most beautiful parks, where students can bike, play tennis and golf, or rent boats on scenic Hoyt Lake. With shopping, restaurants, theaters, world-renowned art galleries, and live music just a subway ride away, students understand why Buffalo is one of the best midsized cities for college.

Canisius offers comfortable, spacious suites and apartment-style residence halls. Students can choose froma range of meal options at the dining halls and campus snack bars, which include Tim Hortons and Starbucks.

Canisius looks for students who are passionate, motivated, hardworking, and interested in making a difference in the world around them.